Mrs. Chudleigh regarded Harding with unveiled hostility. "I do not know how I can be expected to tell you," she said. "No one has told me anything about it, I can assure you. The only person I have been permitted to speak to is Miss Fawcett. I'm sure I don't wish to call her secretive, but really I must confess I found her reticence most overdone and foolish."
"Emmy, dear!" said the Vicar again, still more gently.
She bridled a little, but subsided. Harding took swill advantage of the lull. "I only want to ask you a few questions about your own movements yesterday morning, Mrs. Chudleigh. Can you remember just when you arrived at the Grange?"
"Oh, if that is all — ! I rang the front-door bell at twenty minutes past twelve precisely, for I looked at my watch. fearing it might be later. I may say I had ample opportunity for doing so since the butler kept me waiting on the doorstep longer than I should permit any servant of mine to do."
"And when he admitted you, did he take you straight out on to the terrace?"
"Certainly. Since Lady Billington-Smith was there, I do not know where else he would have taken me."
"How long did you remain on the terrace, Mrs. Chudleigh?"
"I remained until half past twelve."
"And you left by way of the path leading round the side of the house to the drive?"
"Yes. I told Lady Billington-Smith there was no need for her to disturb herself on my account. She seemed to me to be far from well, which I am sure was not to be wondered at. Though I shall always consider that she brought it all on herself, marrying that man."